Delhi govt clears proposal to procure 1k low floor AC buses
NEW DELHI: The Delhi cabinet, in its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday approved Transport Department's proposal for the engagement of 1,000 low floor height CNG propelled air-conditioned buses under the Cluster scheme of the Delhi Government. After the Cabinet meeting,Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia briefed media persons in Delhi Secretariat .It is expected that AC bus fleets will start in the next July and will be completed in October, 2019.
After receipt of financial bids, Transport Department will seed expenditure sanction for these 1000 low floor AC buses from the Council of Ministers for the entire concession period before signing the Concession Agreements with the L-1 bidders. Transport Department will be allowed to make modifications in the routes of the remaining clusters, as per requirement of city and rural areas.
Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) likely to be appointed as Bid Process Manager and Integrated Machanism (IM) for these proposed clusters as well, on nomination basis, said a government spokesperson. "The Delhi Cabinet, granted administrative approval for the engagement of 1,000 low floor height CNG propelled air-conditioned buses under Gross Cost Model of contracting through private entities under the Cluster Scheme of Delhi Government, through global tendering process, on the basis of the best financial offers under the remaining clusters," he said.
DIMTS was assigned with a study on Route Rationalization. Hence, some of the 657 approved routes are likely to be amended. Hence, the Transport Department may be allowed to make suitable modifications in the existing routes of clusters, as per the requirements of the bus passengers. It may be mentioned that the Delhi Government has to augment city bus fleet of stage carriages upto the number of 11,000 buses in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court of India and Delhi high court.
Both the Courts are regularly monitoring the augmentation of the bus fleet in accordance with its directions. As on date, the overall fleet of DTC and Cluster buses stands at 5,460. The Department will specify the clusters and its associated routes for the 1,000 low floor AC buses in the RFP document so as to have informed bidding process by the prospective bidders. Transport Minister will be the competent authority for RFP approval of this project.
